Easy to make, and with a great chocolate flavor, this cake is amazing! The top layer remains gooey and rather soft, so I prefer to serve the cake directly from the pan. I love it slightly underbaked for a fudgier experience.
Originally posted in August 2012, this post has been updated with images, text, and video to serve you better. The recipe remains the same because it's amazing!
I think this is one of the most playful chocolate cakes ever. So we eat it regularly haha!
It appeals to everyone, comes together really quickly, and has that magic ingredient that is condensed milk. Really people, what recipe isn't great that has condensed milk? I dare you. I can give enough proof with the Margarita Key Lime Pie, the best chocolate fudge EVER, and my favorite Sweet Potato Pie. The proof is in the pudding, definitively.
The frosting alone can be eaten with a spoon, that's how addictive it is.
So let's get on with the recipe.
Main ingredients
The list is simple and most you probably have at home right now. If not all. I keep cocoa powder and condensed milk in my pantry at all times. As usual, the best quality ingredients give the best results.
Cocoa powder - look for the best you can find. It makes a difference.
- Condensed milk - use the regular kind, any good brand works.
- Brown sugar - it makes a subtle difference in flavor and moistness, but you can use regular white sugar if that's all you have.
- Flavorings - vanilla extract (natural) is much better than an essence (which is artificial). I love paste, but any type works. The cinnamon adds depth to the overall flavor, but you can omit it. Also, you can use almond or coffee extract, they go very well with the rest of the ingredients.
The frosting
This is what makes or breaks a chocolate sheet cake IMO.
The frosting or icing should be sweet, crackly, and with enough chocolate flavor. This one checks all the boxes, of course. That's why we love it so much.
Variation: you can add some chopped walnuts after you pour it over the hot cake.
The process is very easy as you can see in the video tutorial below 👇🏻
Top tips
- Cake pan: I use a rectangular pan without a removable bottom. This is because when you pour the frosting some of it goes to the sides. If it had a removable bottom it would probably seep through it.
- Variation - you can make a poke cake, piercing the surface when the cake comes out of the oven with a brochette stick or similar. When you pour the chocolate icing some of it will seep into it making the cake moister.
- Fudgier cake: if you slightly underbake the cake it will be fudgier. And it will be even more amazing!
- Walnuts: sometimes I sprinkle chopped walnuts on top of the icing before it sets.
This is the perfect cake to make and snack on it during the weekend, to bake when you have kids and teenagers at home, to take to a barbecue or potluck.
It keeps well for several days and it's a crowd-pleaser like you wouldn't believe it. Or maybe you would if you made it all the way down here.
For a sophisticated variation, you can add a tablespoon of your favorite liquor (I love Kahlua, Baileys, and Cointreau) to the batter and the icing. Or whisky, it works so well with chocolate. Did I tell you about my favorite cake in the world, the Bourbon Hot Chocolate Bundt Cake? It's beyond amazing.
Other chocolate cake recipes you might like:
Flourless Chocolate Almond Cake
The Best Chocolate Bundt Cake
Chocolate Potato Cake
Let me know if you make this recipe! I’d love to hear what you think about it. Thank you for being here, I appreciate it! Let’s connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
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Gooey Chocolate Sheet Cake
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Easy to make, and with a great chocolate flavor, this cake is amazing! The top layer remains gooey and rather soft, so I prefer to serve the cake directly from the pan.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
- 1 cup of water
- 2 cups unsifted flour
- 1 ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 14-oz can condensed milk, divided
- 2 eggs, at room t°
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Grease a 13x18-inch pan. If you want, you can line the bottom and the two long sides with a piece of foil or parchment.
For the cake:
- Melt 1 cup butter in a small saucepan.
- Add cocoa and water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl mix flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Make a well in the center and add cocoa mixture, 1/3 can (eyeball it) of the condensed milk, eggs and vanilla. Mix until the batter is smooth.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until cake springs back. Don't overbake it.
For the frosting:
- In a small saucepan (I use the same one without cleaning it) melt the remaining ¼ cup butter.
- Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons cocoa, and the rest of the condensed milk. Mix well.
- Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
- Spread over warm chocolate cake. Let cool completely.
- If adding some chopped walnuts do so before the frosting cools and develops the top crust.
Notes
- Cake pan: I use a rectangular pan without a removable bottom. This is because when you pour the frosting some of it goes to the sides. If it had a removable bottom it would probably seep through it.
- Variation - you can make a poke cake, piercing the surface when the cake comes out of the oven with a brochette stick or similar. When you pour the chocolate icing some of it will seep into it making the cake moister.
- Fudgier cake: if you slightly underbake the cake it will be fudgier. And it will be even more amazing!
- Walnuts: sometimes I sprinkle chopped walnuts on top of the icing before it sets.
Keywords: chocolate sheet cake
Where is the recipe for the frosting? Could you please send it to me?
Thank you
Phanson56@icloud.com
Hi Pam, it is explained in the whole recipe. But, to make it easier, I divided it into two parts. Have a great week.
Paula, "Vintage Mondays" sounds like a wonderful idea to me - I am making a mental note to not forget to check for your Monday posts in particular! Having said that, your "Vintage" cake recipe looks like pure sweet comfort food, delicious!
This cake looks so moist! The crackly top reminds me of a brownie. I need a piece of this STAT. 🙂
I love this! My mom collects cookbooks and has amassed quites the library. she has some awesome vintage ones with pages falling out. I should revisit them for inspiration!
OMG…this looks incredible, Paula!!! I'm so happy to hear we will be able to be given some of your vintage recipes. I can't wait!
Love love love the look of that crackly crunchy topping. Yum!
I'm so glad I found your blog! I love gooey, fudgy brownies. They remind me of ones I used to help my dad make as a kid. I also love old cookbooks--in fact my dad just gave me a bunch of his and I love reading the titles of recipes and the instructions to see how they differ. Have you ever read any old cake decorating magazines or books? I have a bunch and the designs are simultaneously awesome in their intricacy as well as their gaudiness. It's impressive!
I agree about the old cookbooks! I get my hands on them as much as I can. Thanks for stopping by!
I'm reading this on tuesday and all that chocolateness looks a good as it did on vintage monday 🙂
Looks gooey and delicious!
Oh my goodness that almost looks like a brownie it is so rich!
Robin and I love vintage cookbooks as well. Sadly, we don't have a big collection. We'll have to get more to find delicious recipes like this!
Excellent cake that everybody would love.
That looks so moist, Fudgy and delicious 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Paula, love this! Now, will you eat this cake? 😛
Paula, this looks amazing. I will be trying it, but with pecans, sometime soon.
You're on a roll, Paula! Absolutely loving the gooey chocolate cake filled with nuts! Simply delicious.
OMG – simply gorgeous. Your styling is exquisite…!
Gorgeous cake!
And seems like you have many great things lined up, hope to see them soon on your blog! 🙂